Northern Panthers 0 Durham City Saracens 87

Saturday 19 October 2019
Northern Panthers (3rds) v Durham City Saracens (2nds)
(Away - McCracken Park) 2:45 pm KO
Result : Northern Panthers 0 - 87 Durham City Saracens (HT 0 - 49)

Team sheet :

15 Max Bailey
14 Russell Harris
13 Ellis Hook
12 James Cook
11 Jonny Hedley
10 Andy Stephenson
9 Ollie Hyland
1 Jim Earley
2 Austin Anderson
3 Ed Partridge
4 Jonathan Deighton
5 Josh Cotton
6 Jonny Ranson
7 Euan Gardiner
8 Rhys Powell (c)

Replacements

16 Kieron Avis
17 Iain Taylor
18 Dave Berriman

Physiotherapist None

Referee Scott Rendles (Northumberland Referees Society)

A 13 try 87-0 win in rainy conditions throughout the game against a valiant Northern Panthers (their 3rds) was the sort of mis-match that City have been on the wrong side of too often in past seasons. All things being considered it was a splendid performance by 18 capable City players and notable for only one penalty in the first half and only two penalties and one free-kick in the 20 minute second half that were all awarded to Northern which was a credit to both sets of players and new-to-the-rôle referee Scott Rendles from the North Shields Club.

Northern kicked off towards the town end on the pitch parallel to their main pitch where their 2nds were playing Whitley Bay Rockcliff in a cup-tie. Right wing Russell Harris fielded the kick and his charging run to the half way line supported by loose head Jim Earley was typical for what followed in the rest of the game. The first score came after a little more than five minutes when Euan Gardiner won the City line-out on the Northern ten metre line and stand-in scrum half Ollie Hyland set the backs away for centre James Cook to go over by the posts for a try that full-back Max Bailey converted for a 7-0 lead. Back came City from the re-start and, after textbook carries and running by forwards and backs alike, hooker Austin Anderson went in for a second converted score for 14-0. And so the scores continued at regular intervals ; blind-side Jonny Ranson after 15 minutes ; No.8 Rhys Powell after 25 minutes ; left wing Jonny Hedley after 27 minutes ; Max Bailey after 34 minutes and James Cook for his second after 36 minutes. All were converted by Max Bailey for a half-time score-line of 49-0 - the only threat to the City line coming just before half-time when a ricochet and boot of the ball took it to the City five metre line.

The half time changes were the planned replacement of second row Josh Cotton and centre Ellis Hook with Kieron Avis and Iain Taylor respectively.

The procession of scores was resumed with Iain Taylor scoring two tries within five minutes of the re-start - only narrowly missing a third moments later when he was bundled into touch that would have made it a hat-trick in record time. Ollie Hyland got the next with ten minutes gone in the second half, then Euan Gardiner after 15 minutes followed by two from Max Bailey with Max missing two conversions and graciously letting Dave Berriman, who had come on at loose head for Jim Earley, to convert his second try as the game entered its fourth quarter. Shortly after, with the agreement of both sides, referee Scott Rendles drew the game to a close to end Northern’s suffering with the final score at 87-0.

Despite Northern being out-played in all departments they ran most of their ball but came up against City’s hard defence using their replacements in the first half in the process. As the score records this was a comprehensive City win and a performance that would have been better matched by either of the two teams on the adjacent pitch - evidenced by Northern Wanderers beating the strong Whitley Bay Rockliff side who’ve beaten City deservedly in their last three outings.

Euan Gardiner was Man of the Match for not only his line-out work but also his competitive play around the park exemplified by his almost single-handed defence getting back to drop on a hacked-on ball and recover possession in a chase to the line to prevent Northern getting a try on the stroke of half-time.

Some points of interest/amusement ; firstly this was the first time in at least three seasons that the Saracens have kept a ‘clean sheet’ ; secondly, we almost got to half time without the referee penalising either side ; thirdly, City’s replacements being denied more rugby by playing a game of only three quarters ; and finally the sight of Ed Partridge’s dad, former City player Ray, having to fork out Ed's £3 match fees as he had no change - something that is increasingly common in this age of using contactless cards.

The win takes this season’s Saracens’ record to :
P 06 W 04 D 00 L 02 F 274 A 160 and a try count of 42 for and 25 against.

Last season’s record was :
P 21 W 14 D 00 L 07 F 832 A 538 and a total of 133 tries for and 86 against.

This Saturday 26th October 2019 we’re at home to Medicals Serpents (their 3rds).

City scorers :
Max Bailey 3 tries & 10 cons
James Cook 2 tries
Iain Taylor 2 tries
Austin Anderson 1 try
Euan Gardiner 1 try
Jonny Hedley 1 try
Ollie Hyland 1 try
Rhys Powell 1 try
Jonny Ranson 1 try
Dave Berriman 1 con

Stewart Eddie
25 October 2019